Memorial Day is the annual tribute to all those who died fighting for the United States in the more than two centuries since the country was founded.

Easily the largest ceremony is the one held at Veterans Memorial Park by Badger Lake, which is organized by the Fort Dodge Veterans Council.

It will begin at 10 a.m. with a concert by the Karl L. King Municipal Band.

The program will begin at 10:30 a.m. Traditional elements of the program include dropping a wreath into the lake to honor those lost at sea and reading the names of veterans who have died in the past year.

-Messenger file photo
Members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1856 carry the American flag and the flag of the post into the amphitheater of Veterans Memorial Park at the beginning of the 2021 Memorial Day ceremony. Members of the Karl King Municipal Band stand in the background.

Before and after the progam, people will be able to check out two new memorials placed at the park recently. One is a Korean War Monument donated by CJ Bio America. That company is part of CJ Cheiljedang Corp., based in Seoul, South Korea.

The other new monument honors all veterans who received the Purple Heart, which is given to those who are killed or wounded in action. That monument was donated by Historic Bruce Funeral Home and Fort Dodge Noon SERTOMA.

People attending the ceremony should go to Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Complex and board a bus to Veterans Memorial Park. Buses will begin traveling between the sports complex and the park at 9:15 a.m. After the ceremony, buses will transport people back to the sports complex.

If it rains, the ceremony will be moved to St. Edmond Catholic School at Sixth Avenue North and 22nd Street.

Other Memorial Day ceremonies will be held in these Webster County communities:

• Dayton — 10 a.m. Monday at Dayton Cemetery. Immediately after that ceremony, additional ceremonies will be held at Bass Cemetery and McGuire Bend Cemetery.

• Duncombe — 10 a.m. Monday at 501 Main St.

• Gowrie — 10 a.m. Monday at Gowrie Township Cemetery

• Otho — 10 a.m. Monday at Otho Cemetery on Osceola Avenue. The event starts with decorating of the graves followed by a program with the Rev. Lana Hedeen Shea as keynote speaker. In case of rain, the ceremony will be moved to Otho Methodist Church.